Marin Economic Forum: Did You Know? Not so fast on natural gas bans?

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On Monday, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that Berkeley's natural gas piping ban, which the city's government passed in 2019 as part of its climate agenda, violated the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) of 1975. The ban was challenged by the California Restaurant Association.

While this decision does not suggest that cities and Marin County’s own regulations that ban natural gas hookups in new buildings will be overturned, it does highlight the tension that exists between public and private sector when it comes to meeting climate goals.

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